Recent reviews

Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

Reviews by score
Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)

Git Some

Cosmic Rock
1-2-3-4 Go! (2008)

Git Some is a band which has been around a bit and actually predates the participation of two of its members (Chuck French and Neil Keener) in the much vaunted group, Planes Mistaken for Stars (even though many will consider this a new band featuring ex-members of said well known group for which they would be wrong). Git Some is a bit of a different animal than Planes Mistaken for Stars. but the same fierce energy is present and for some reason "aggro" keeps popping into my head when trying to describe this outfit. Cosmic Rock is the first album from this four piece from Colorado in the U.S., and its eleven tracks bristle with a sort of coming out one's skin manic energy, a cathartic release of pent up aggression if you will. One glaring aspect of Cosmic Rock that jumps out at listeners - well me - is that as the bass goes so do the songs; if the bass guitar is thick sounding and up in the mix a bit, the songs rage and blast through with just the right bottom heavy goodness. "Nice Suit" and "Chainsaw Clothesline" both benefit greatly from the bass sound, and in … Read more

Intronaut

Prehistoricisms
Century Media (2008)

Every so often you just want a metal album that is that, a metal album. Well here we have just … Read more

Gnaw Their Tongues

An Epiphanic Vomiting of Blood
Crucial Blast (2008)

Gnaw Their Tongues is almost completely indescribable, it is a project that simply needs to be heard to be believe. … Read more

Conor Oberst

Conor Oberst
Merge (2008)

It's rather interesting that I've found the work of Bright Eyes to be wholly underwhelming since the release of Fevers … Read more

Sinaloa

Oceans of Islands
Level Plane (2008)

A seven year old band from Boston, comprised of three members, released their third full-length this year. After writing five … Read more

Marillion

Happiness is the Road Volume 2: The Hard Shoulder
Racket (2008)

...and with volume two in the "Happiness is the Road" series, Marillion has the ship back on course. Kicking open … Read more

Browse our review archives

Reviews by year

Choose a year to view reviews of albums released in that year.

Reviews by artist name

Choose a letter to view reviews ordered by that letter (band name first).

Review categories

200 Words Or Less

748 reviews

Book Review

42 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

4853 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

Scarling

So Long, Scarecrow
Sympathy for the Record Industry (2005)

It's going to sound silly, but in recent months, Scarling has taken on Moby Dick-like proportions in my life. They were that band that everyone told me I absolutely had to listen to, and each time I heard this, I grew a bit more reluctant to bother for no solid reason other than the fact that I hate to be told what to do. As per usual, though, I caved under pressure and gave So Long, Scarecrow, Scarling's latest offering, a try. I won't say I wasn't skeptical. If song-titles are anything to judge by - and let's be honest, we all do this from time to time - all the visual cues were present for a tedious flashback to the worst moments of the rocking, radical feminist agendas of … Read more

More album reviews

Marillion

Happiness is the Road Volume 1: The Essence
Racket (2008)

In their twenty-six-year or so history, Marillion have never released a shitty album. Think of other bands that have been around; can they make the same claim? I think not. Sure, there's been albums that are less memorable, but actually bad? Not a one. Writer's block has never been an issue with a couple of exceptions, the releases are usually … Read more

Cruel Hand

Prying Eyes
Bridge Nine (2008)

I love it when hardcore bands up their game. I understand it's hardcore and bands have made decade-long careers on releasing the same album year after year. Or usually they run out of material and gracefully bail out after an EP and one full-length. However with Prying Eyes Cruel Hand decided to out-do themselves with releasing one of the better … Read more

Red Sparowes

Aphorisms
Sargent House (2008)

When Red Sparowes released At the Soundless Dawn, I began to better appreciate instrumental music. The sound that the band has made for themselves incorporates pedal steel guitar, wandering movements, and entrancing song developments. After recording the band's second full-length Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun guitarist Josh Graham, also of Neurosis, left the band to work on … Read more

The Bronx

III
Island (2008)

The Bronx are a loud rock-n-roll band. Their first album was bruising and hectic, but their second album toned it down a tad with more melody and relaxing tempos. More than one coked-up kid probably complained of the change, slight as it was, and cried sellout. "Where'd all the punk go?" Well kid, now that The Bronx are free from … Read more

Hope and Suicide

Hope and Suicide
SuperNova (2008)

Many recent listeners may not remember (nor heard in the first place) the first couple of releases by Florida's Hope and Suicide (1999's Razorblade Smile and 2003's split with Emmanuel 7) let alone know that members of this band were integral members of the almighty Bloodlet (vocalist Scott Angelacos was also the vocalist of Bloodlet while bassist Tom Crowther was … Read more

Mötley Crüe

Saints of Los Angeles
Eleven Seven (2008)

Sometimes you just want to tear something down, rip it to shreds. To have that attitude when reviewing an album is fucked up, no question. The promo for the new Mötley Crüe album was claimed for such a reason. Preconceived notions are just that - preconceptions. Sometimes they're accurate, sometimes not. Thinking that an album from schlock-meisters Mötley Crüe will … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Perth Express

Harrowed and Wealdstone
Vendetta (2008)

Harrowed and Wealdstone marks the final recordings from German bruisers Perth Express. It's quite a shame that the band decided to call it a day as they had just released their discography in the U.S. last year and followed that up with tours in the States as well as abroad. These nine songs see a continued assault on the ears … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Unchained

Dark Days
Independent (2008)

Unchained is a five-piece of youngsters from the Bay Area of California. This release is a four-song demo EP titled Dark Days. On these four tracks the band offers up a nice blend of hardcore, fast-paced punk, and even a dash of 80's thrash ala D.R.I.. "I'm Walking Home" had me thinking of Lights Out. "Fuck Off Die Slow" is … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Pristina

Khe Sanh
Bombfarm (2008)

Pristina is a metal/hardcore outfit from Connecticut. The arrival of their latest EP, Khe Sanh, to my doorstep was a pleasant surprise, one that was not expected but is now appreciated. This group of individuals delivers a fairly heavy and burly concoction of metal-core. Their sound is quite gritty and raw and, well, very dirty sounding. At points I found … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Primal Age

A Hell Romance
Customcore (2008)

A Hell Romance is my first exposure to French metal/hardcore hybrid Primal Age. Prior to this release they've knocked out a few other recordings, garnering a name for themselves in Europe and shows with plenty of big names. On this twelve-song full-length they unleash a quite powerful and punishing metalcore mixture in the style of xMaroonx, Turmoil, Hatebreed, and even … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Out to Sea

Mouth Like a Sailor
Independent (2008)

Hailing from outside of Dallas, this Texas hardcore outfit delivers six tracks of premium melodic hardcore with a slightly metallic edge. Musically their sound reminds me of Shai Hulud, but a little bit more melodic perhaps Kid Dynamite-esque at points. They've got it all, good sing-along parts, some fast-paced two-stepping parts, and of course good breakdowns. For a demo recording … Read more

200 Words Or Less

You Lose!

All In
Independent (2008)

I guarantee of two things after you listen to All In from You Lose! First off, you'll never guess this band is from France. Secondly, you'll be amped up and ready to take on anything. This five-piece delivers six songs in just less than nine minutes of crunchy and thundering hardcore with a metal edge. The songs remind me of … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Common Market

Tobacco Road
Hyena (2008)

Common Market is an alternative hip-hop duo from the Pacific Northwest. The group also has another LP and an EP prior to Tobacco Road. This eighteen-track effort is backed by smooth production of Sabiz (also of Blue Scholars). The beats hit perfectly and the production also makes use of a tasteful keys, guitars, and well-selected samples; it's not overproduced, but … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Franklin Cover Up

Commercial
Seven Trumpets (2007)

On first glance The Franklin Cover Up's name may appear silly. But upon further investigation - a child prostitution ring involving several former U.S. government officials - everything begins to make sense. The Idaho metalcore outfit yes I said Idaho delivers nine tracks in twenty minutes on their debut full-length, Commercial. These songs are a mixed bag: some great songs … Read more

Reviews by score
Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)

Advertisement

DCxPC 2025